El Niños | Donner Hip Session

Donner Pass California. Perhaps the most hollowed of all of snowboarding’s hollowed ground. Are there other territories that have in modern times served to push snowboarding’s progression to levels unimaginable in the past? Sure. Are there areas around the globe whose snow conditions and terrain better serve to continue the progression of snowboarding into the future? Absolutely.

But arguably no other small strip of mountain peaks have seen as much evolution as the Sierra Nevada. And at the very forefront of the Tahoe movement since day one was Donner Summit. With so much access right off the side of Hwy 80 and the much older classic pass road known as Old 40 it makes perfect since that this of all the spots would always hold strong as one of THE spots. The sheer number of notable terrain and the legendary moments they’ve produced is mind numbing when you try to consider them all at once.

Strap in... – Aspen Weaver looking more like a pack mule... or maybe more of a 12-pack mule.

From the aptly named “Half Dome” to the north tucked in just beside Hwy 80 to the ASI quarterpipes hardly a mile to the south the pages of much of snowboardings history has been written right here. And when in Rome... Well you know what they say. And as logic goes, when you have an absolutely legendary crew of snowboarders why wouldn’t you take the time to enjoy a warm spring like day in the snow at an equally legendary location? And with that in mind building the ASI quartpipe was our mission.

The plan and execution was simple. Take the short hike, build out the run in and lip, scrape the landing and send it to the moon. But a quarterpipe party ain’t a party without bbq’s, food, amenities and enough beer to drown a frat house. With 3 children’s toboggans loaded down for the porters to carry it was time to set out. Wait who were these porters and where were they? Riders, Media, VZ staff and basically anybody else - you are now pack mules. Get moving.

First to launch – Of course there was standing cheer - the kicker didn't colapse!

A small hiatus to soak up some rays and everything is salted up and running real fast. It’s finally party time. Now none of us on hand were ever around to witness in person some of the groundbreaking sessions that have played out here in days gone by but I cant help but feel like in many ways this day possessed a vibe very closely aligned with those that have taken place before it. It may be that feeling that everyone experiences when they’re involved in a moment in time that brings out the best in everyone on hand.

From John traveling from the Canadian interior the night before, only to show up and prove that he is one of the most versatile and adaptive beast’s in the animal kingdom. To Hana going toe to toe and trick for trick with John and Halldor. And well Halldor just generally being Halldor. He thrives on awkward setups and maximizing them to his ultimate advantage. And this was absolutely no exception. Seemingly making up tricks as he went and then proceeding to stomp them out on the last half a boards length of transition.

As with most days spent on the side of a snow covered mountain, your always at least mildly aware of the shadow lines making their way across the vast swaths of snow until finally, eventually the shadows overtake the sun and its time to face the fact that the day is leaving the mountain with or without you. We didn’t want to come to terms with that harsh truth but the reality was that just about the only thing we didn’t drag up there that day was lights, batteries and camping gear so the decision was inevitably made for us.

Back to the cars and although most food and virtually all liquids had been finished off those porters were gonna need to figure out how to snowboard down a now very icy backcountry zone while simultaneously dragging those damn loaded down kiddie sleds. Where are the porters!?